the first run event of the year – mpib run

the first weekend of the year was spent up north, mainly for the mpib run. itinerary was planned back to back – checked into a small and cosy little hotel, walked to the race pack collection in the pouring rain, grabbed a late lunch, waited under the blazing sun for the free shuttle bus to tropicana city mall, dinner in chinatown, and a good night’s sleep.

we arrived early, did my porta business, and back at the Start line 8 minutes before the flag off. i skipped the 12km run last year, took on the 8km route this year, and naively believed that the running terrain would be flatter. the 8km runners were not spared from the hilly terrain, despite a 5km shortage of up and down hills. my gps sensor failed on me (again!!) and route was plotted manually.

the run this year managed to attract 5,000 participants, which probably explain why i felt that padang merbuk was more packed compared to last year.

the distance markers, red for the 12 km and blue for the 8 km were clearly visible throughout the entire route, and volunteers were available to clearly indicate and guide the runners to the right route during the splits. water stations were situated slightly farther from the stipulated 3 km mark. congestion in the water stations were more prominent where both the 8 km and 12 km runners shared the same route.

what i like most about the race is the amount of shade provided in the race route. i hardly encounter sun light shining ahead or even from behind me.

my first 8km in the new year, and i’m satisfied with the result, considering my last run was a week before the mpib run.